Here’s how Pa. senators voted on the procedural step for Trump’s budget bill

Pennsylvania’s two senators added to each side of the ledger as the votes were counted late Saturday night to move President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” past a key procedural step.

The package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds barely passed amid a strong push by the administration to have it reach the president to sign by the Fourth of July.

Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, voted “yes” and Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, voted “no.”

Neither has commented on X, formerly Twitter, since they cast their votes.

The vote was 51-49, with two Republicans — Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky — joining all Democrats in opposition.

Saturday’s procedural vote was delayed for hours as party leaders scrambled to resolve internal disputes. For three hours it remained in limbo on the floor, as a handful Republicans — Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rick Scott of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming — withheld their votes.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and other GOP leaders were ultimately able to win them over, teeing up a vote on final passage this week.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., forced a reading of the entire bill on the floor of the chamber, which began Saturday night and was still going on Sunday afternoon.

After that, there will be up to 20 hours of debate before a process in which senators can offer unlimited amendments ahead of a final vote.

McCormick told WGAL 8 in an interview late last week that his biggest priorities with the legislation were extending 2017 tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year and controlling government spending, particularly with Medicaid.

“We have a $37 trillion debt, a trillion-dollar interest payment every year, and a $2 trillion deficit, so it’s like a family making $50,000 a year and spending $75,000. It’s unsustainable,” he said.

As for the changes to Medicaid that could force hundreds of thousands of people to lose coverage, the Republican senator said that it will ensure those truly needing it — such as older people, children, and people with disabilities — will continue to have it available to them.

Trump, during a White House press conference on Friday, called Fetterman “the most sensible” Democratic senator and said he should vote for the Republican budget bill that the Senate is haggling over.

Fetterman did not immediately respond via social media to Trump’s comments, but he has continued to oppose the bill, citing cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

On June 4, Fetterman wrote on X/Twitter that, “Nearly 300k Pennsylvanians would lose Medicaid coverage. Pennsylvania families would see a rise in energy costs up to $1200. Domestic manufacturing tax credits would be rolled back, and the U.S. would lose $50 billion. And now this massive deficit added. Once again, I am a NO.”